276 Australian Life 



when Australians turned British convict ships 

 from their wharves with an open show of force, 

 there has never been a moment when the Im- 

 perial tie has been in any danger of severance. 

 But that moment will come should the Common- 

 wealth at any time receive the order to throw 

 open its territories to an Asiatic people. 



It is at least certain that Australian life of to- 

 day is very strongly influenced by this shadow 

 which lies across the future of the continent. 

 Not long ago, Mr. Deakiu, who is the most repre- 

 sentative of Australian Nationalists, was inter- 

 viewed on the subject of Australia's relations 

 with the outside world. He expressed very 

 forcibly the view that the Commonwealth should 

 immediately prepare itself for the defence of its 

 shores. " Australia," he said, " which used to 

 depend largely on its isolation for security, is now 

 within what is termed striking distance of no 

 fewer than sixteen foreign naval stations San 

 Francisco, Mazatlan, Callao, Iquique, Hawaii, 

 Tahiti, Samoa, New Caledonia, Yokohama, Port 

 Arthur, Shanghai, Manila, Saigon, Bencooelen, 

 Reunion, and Tamatave. It is very doubtful if 

 we are properly prepared to meet a dash at our 

 weak spots, delivered by two or three fast cruis- 

 ers. It is also very much open to question 

 whether our harbour defences are equal to the 

 test to which they might be put. The forts 

 about our principal cities are most of them of 

 antiquated design, and very dangerous to the 



